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PATENTED MAY 21, 1907. H. WELLS.

GATE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 5. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD WELLS, OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

GATE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HAROLD WELLs, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Norman, Cleveland county, Territory of Oklahoma, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and my preferredmanner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full,clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularlyspecifying the novelty.

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to gates such asare employed to stand across a roadway and of such construction thatthey may be opened by the driver of a team on his approach and can beclosed after he has passed both without leaving his seat.

' the supporting posts.

The object of the invention is to improve the operative parts of such agate so as to latch it when open and lock it when closed and toaccomplish either by one actuation of the o erative mechanism.

A urther object is to produce a gate of this character which can beadjusted so as to close different widths of gate-openings.

My preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of this gate complete, showingit as closed across a roadway. Fig. 2 is the side elevation of the gatein its open condition, and a section through Fig. 3 and 4 are enlargeddetails in elevation of the latching and locking mechanism, the first inthe position which the parts would assume when the gate was closed, andthe second in the position which they would assume when the gate wasopen. Fig. 5 is a detail of these parts separated so as to show theadjustments to which they are susceptible. Fig. 6 is a perspectivedetail of the guide and traveler, showing a modified form of the upperend of the guide. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a modified form of thepivots at the upper ends of the posts.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a fence which maylead in almost any direction from the gate, leaving a gateopeningbetween the post 2 and the supporting post 3. The latter is made of twinup right members, twin sills 4, and twin diagonal braces 5, coimectingthe outer ends of the sills with the upright. Between the uprights attheir upper extremity is mounted a pulley 6 under which leads a rope 7connecting with the inner ends of two levers 8 which are piv-Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1906. Serial No. 337,588.

Patented May 21, 1907.

oted on posts 9 alongside the approaching roadway, and which levers haveropes or handles 10 at their outer ends.

The gate itself consists of a number of bars i 11 (preferably of metal)crossing each other and pivoted where they cross as at 12 in thelazy-tong fashion, the lower end of the inner member being supported ona pivot 13 through the sills 4 and the upper end of the correspondinginner member having rollers 14 or other elements which move in anoblique track 15 carried by the braces 5 as best seen in Fig. 1. Whenthis lazy-tong gate is contracted as shown in the last-mentioned view,it stands partly or wholly between the sills and braces; and when it isexpanded as shown in Fig. 1, its outer end reaches quite to the post 2so as to close the driveway as will be readily understood.

A guideis referably employed as best seen in Fig. 6. T iis consists ofposts 20 set in the ground about opposite and some distance from thelower ends of the braces 5, a bail 21 whose feet 22 are pivoted in saidposts and whose bent center 23 extends over the gate,

and a traveler 24 consisting of a U-shaped member whose center ispivotally mounted as at 25 on one of the pivots at the top of the gateand whose outturned ends have eyes 26 in which an arm of the bail 21travels. But

one of these travelers is shown in Fig. 1, but

it is obvious that there could be two of them pivoted on opposite endsof the bolt 25. The function of the guide and traveler is to direct thegateas it folds or closes-accurately between the braces 5, and to guideit as it opens, whatever the direction of the wind or however strong arethe other in fluences tending to the contrary.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of the guide wherein its two arms 21instead of being unitedby a bend 23 at their upper ends above the gateare there connected by a clamp 230 comprising two members held togetherby a bolt 231. This clamp is adjustable by means of the bolt, so thatthe guide can be more accurately set to do its work properly.

By preference I also employ contractile springs 28 connecting the gatewith the braces 5 on each side, and preferably adjustable on the latteras at 29 so that their tension may be increased when this gate is placedon a side hill. The function of these springs is to overcome thetendency of the post 3, and an unlatching device.

gate to close under the Weight of its component parts, and if rightlyused and adjusted they will effect this purpose without adding to thecomplexity of the entire device.

The lock and latch above referred to will now be described. The formerconsists of a toggle which comprises twin members adjustably pivoted toan extension 31 at the top of one arm of the gate, and an L-shapedmember 32 whose stem is pivoted at 33 between the outermost ends of saidmembers 30. and which carries a pin 34 which strikes the upper edge ofsaid members when the gate is opened and the pivot 33 has passed to aslight distance below a line between the pivots at the inner ends ofsaid members and the angle of said L-shaped member 32. The member 32is,secured at its angle by a pivot 35 to an extension 36 on another barof the gate as shown in the drawings, and the foot 37 of this member isupturned and has a hook 38 for a purpose to be described below.

The latch which holds this gate open con sists of said hook, a loop onthe supporting In the drawings the loop is numbered 40, and is in thiscase pivoted at 41 between the upper ends of the braces 5 in suchposition that when the gate is thrown open the hook 38 passes under theloop and is engaged thereby. The unlatching device consists of aU-shaped member 42 pivotally mounted on the pivot 35 which forms thepivot of the L-shaped member 32; and this member 42 has ears 43 whichstand on either side of the hook 38 as shown. Said member 42 also has alink 44 above the foot 37, which link is connected with the rope 7 asshown. The function of this unlatching member is to disconnect hook 38from the loop 40 so as to permit the gate to close. By preference thegate, the guide, and the lock and latch are of metal, while theremaining parts may be of wood or other material. It is obvious that byproviding a series of holes in the members 30 and in the shank of theL-shaped member 32, the pivot 33 can be adjusted in them so as to allowthe gate to open to a greater or lesser extent and therefore adapt it toroadways of different widths.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 7 constitutes a different form ofpivot at the upper end of the post 9, and may best be described as arow-lock 235 whose stem 236 is stepped in a socket in the upper end ofthe post 9, while the lever 8 is pivoted at 240 between the arms of itsfork. It will be obvious that a pivot of this kind at the top of thepost possesses the advantage of removability, and also permits the postto be set at the other side of the road-way or in other position asdesired. Moreover, the lever 8 will not bind on the pivot if the handle10 should not be drawn straight downward or if the pulley 6 were notexactly beneath the inner end of the lever.

A gate of the above constructionbeing properly set up, the operation isas follows: The gate being closed as shown in Fig. 1, when a teamapproaches the driver pulls on the rope 10 which causes the rope 7 todraw on the unlatching device, turns the L-shaped member on its pivot 35so as to throw the toggle and disengage the lock, contracts the gate tothe position shown in Fig. 2, and causes the hook 38 to automaticallyengage the loop 40. Having passed through the gate-way, the operatorpulls on the other rope 10, and the rope 7 then raises the unlatchingdevice 42 because the latter at that time stands very nearly beneath thepulley 6. As it rises, its ears 45 lift the loop 40 out of engagementwith the hook 38, and the springs 28 cause the gate to move outward backto the position shown in Fig. 1. In the inward and outward movement ofthe gate the guide swings on its pivot in the posts 20 and the traveleror travelers move thereon in the manner set forth above.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, the gateproper consisting of lazy-tong members connected with said post, and theoperating mechanism; of a guide comprising posts set in the ground, abail whose feet are pivoted in said posts and whose bent center extendsover the gate, and a traveler pivoted on the latter and having eyeswhich slide on the bail.

2. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting postconsisting of twin upright members, twin sills, and twin braces havingoblique tracks, the gate proper consisting of lazy-tong members whoseinner lower end is pivoted between said sills and whose inner upper endcarries elements moving in said tracks, and the operating mechanism; ofa guide comprising a U-shaped bail whose feet are pivoted in supportsopposite the sills and whose bent center passed over the gate, and atraveler on the latter having eyes which slide on the guide as the gateis moved.

3. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, a gatecarried thereby, a swingin guide, and a traveler pivoted on the gate ancsliding on the guide; of operating mechanism for opening and closingsaid gate.

4. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, a gatecarried thereby, a swinging guide, and a traveler pivoted on the gateand sliding on the guide; of operating mechanism for opening and closingthe gate, a latch for holding it in opened condition, and means fortripping the latch by the operating mechanism.

5. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, a gatecarried thereby, a swinging guide, and a traveler on the gate sliding onthe guide; of operating mechanism for opening and closing the gate,means for latching the gate in opened condition, means IIS for lookingit in closed condition, and devices for tripping the latch and the lookby the operating mechanism.

6. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, the gateproper consisting of lazy-tong members connected with said post, andoperating mechanism including a rope led around a pulley on the post; ofa lock for holding the gate open, the same consisting of a togglecomprising two members whose outer ends are pivotally connected withadjacent arms of the gate, one of said members being of L-shape with itsupturned foot connectedto said rope and its stem extending beyond itspivot to the other member and carrying a pin resting on the latter whenthe central pivot of the toggle has passed a straight line between theother pivots.

7. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, the gateproper consisting of lazy-tong members connected with said post, and theoperating mechanism including a rope led around a pulley on the post; ofa lock for holding the gate open, the same consisting of a togglecomprising two members whose outer ends are pivotally connected withadjacent arms of the gate, one of said members being of L-shape with itsupturned foot connected to said rope and its stem pivoted to the othermember, a latch on said foot, a loop on said post with which the latchengages to hold the gate open, and means for disengaging these elementsby the operating mechanism.

8. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, the gateproper consisting of lazy-tong members connected with said post, andoperating mechanism; of braces leading from the post, springs attachedto the gate and adjustably connected to the braces, a toggle connectingtwo of the arms of the gate and having its members adjustably pivoted toeach other for the purpose set forth, and means for tripping this toggleby the action of the operating mechanism.

9. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, a loopand a pulley carried thereby, and the operating mechanism including arope led around said pulley; of the gate proper, a latch thereon havinga hook engaging said loop when the gate is opened, and an unlatchingdevice adjacent the hook and having ears which pass beneath said loopwhen the gate is latched open and which lift the loop and trip the latchthrough an impulse on said rope.

10. In a folding gate, the combination with the supporting post, a loopand a pulley carried thereby, and the operating mechanism including arope led around said pulley; of the gate proper, consisting of lazy-tongmembers, a toggle between two of its arms coinprising twin links for theouter member and an L-shaped inner member with an upturned foot having ahook adapted to engage said loop, and an unlatching device consisting ofa U-shaped member loosely mounted on the pivot of said L-shaped memberand having ears at opposite sides of the hook adapted to pass beneathsaid loop when the gate is latched open and to lift the loop and tripthe latch through an impulse on said rope.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the2Sth day of September, A. D. 1906.

HAROLD IVELLS.

I/Vitnesses:

H. S. PEEBLEs, ARTHUR WILLIAMs.

